Development of copepod nauplii to copepodites-a parameter for chronic toxicity including endocrine disruption

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and chemistry 2001-12, Vol.20 (12), p.2821-2829
• Main Authors: Andersen, Henrik Rasmus, Wollenberger, Leah, Halling-Sørensen, Bent, Kusk, Kresten Ole
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acartia tonsa; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Assay - methods; Copepod; Copepoda; Crustacea - growth & development; Ecdysone; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Endocrine disruption; Endocrine System - drug effects; Estrogen; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal - adverse effects; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Larva - drug effects; Larva - growth & development; Molting; Water Pollutants, Chemical - adverse effects
• ISSN: 0730-7268; 1552-8618
• DOI: 10.1002/etc.5620201222

Test compounds including natural hormones, endocrine disrupters, environmentally occurringcompounds, and reference compounds were tested for acute toxicity and inhibitory effect on larval development in the copepod Acartia tonsa. Three compounds, 17α‐ethinylestradiol, p‐octylphenol, and tamoxifen, known for their differing effects on the vertebrate estrogen system, were potent inhibitors of naupliar development. Other estrogens, 17β‐estradiol, estrone, and bisphenol A, had little potency. Testosterone and progesterone did not inhibit development, but the antiandrogen flutamide had inhibitory effect. Juvenile hormone III was a potent inhibitor, as was expected based on the literature, whereas 20‐hydroxyecdysone had no effect. 3,4‐Dichloroaniline was inhibitory on development, whereas other control compounds, potassium dichromate and 3,5‐dichlorophenol, did not inhibit development. Six of the 17 test compounds had 50% lethal concentration to 50% effective concentration (EC50) ratios higher than 10. The results suggest that naupliar development, as a parameter, is able to detect hormonal disrupters in addition to other chemicals that have other specific modes of action.